[Interobserver variability in CT of oro- and hypopharyngeal carcinomas].

PURPOSE: To evaluate the inter- and intraobserver reproducibilities of computed tomography (CT) in patients with oro- and hypopharyngeal carcinomas.

METHODS

Two independent readers interpreted the CT images of 41 patients with hypopharyngeal carcinomas, 45 patients with oropharyngeal carcinomas, and 23 patients without a tumor. All relevant subregional anatomic structures were evaluated for the presence of tumor infiltration. Statistical analysis was done by using Cohen's kappa and the Wilcoxon test; subregional prevalences, sensitivities, and specificities were also determined.

RESULTS

Mostly, especially for clinically relevant subregions, moderate and substantial inter- and intraobserver reproducibilities were determined (range of the determined kappa values: 0.25-1.00). The kappa values of the intraobserver reproducibilities of both readers were not significantly different (P = 0.20). The kappa values of the intraobserver reproducibilities were in almost all the cases higher than the respective kappa values of the interobserver reproducibility.

CONCLUSION

CT of oro- and hypopharyngeal carcinomas can be interpreted with clinically acceptable variability. A higher agreement can be achieved if repeated interpretation is done by a single person.